Oil-level indicator.



1. Nom/LES; l

OIL LEVEL lNDlC-A'OR.

y APPLICATON FILED NOV. li l. 1,246,757.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

hva/EN role l Jsse aro 'Wies Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

LB. KNOWLES.' OIL LEVEL INDICATOR. APPLlc/mou nun'uov.\.xs1s.

PatentedNov. 13, 1917.

Armen/Ey JESSE BAKER KNUWLES, 0F OAKLAND, GALIFIRNIS..

OIL-LEVEL INJIGATOR.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

vPatented Nov.. 13, 1.9i?.

j Application le November 1,-1916. Serial No. 128,859.

To all av/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JEssE BAKER KNo'WLEs, citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil- Level indicators, of which the following is a specification. y

My, invention is an automaticdndicator of the type commonly employed in connection with the supply of lubricating oil to all types of gas andsteam engines.

@ne of the objects of the invention is to produce a simple device of this type which will not readily get out of order or become deranged when subjected to the joltings and vibrations incident to traveling, and operation generally. A further object is to pro vide an indicator of the character referred to, provided with velectrical contacts so p0- sitioned that they will not be effected by sediment 'in the oil, and other foreign inatters which may settle at the bottom of easxg'lhe invention will be hereinafter fully setforth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a side view of the improved auto matic indicator. Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows a top viewer plan. Fig. Li shows a' hori- Zonta-l section along line A-Al of Fig.

2. Fig. 5 shows a side view of a modified arrangement of parts of indicator. Fig. 6 shows a sectional elevation of the indicator shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows a top view. Fig. S shows a horizontal section along line B-B of Fig. 6.

The invention is particularly adapted for use on automobiles, and may be mounted conveniently on the dashboard, where it is in plain sight of the driver, although it is not limited to such use.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a'metal casing, preferably of the form as shown,

c'. e., provided with side openings, andthreaded on the inside of the upperlend to receive a cap 2. Said cap 2 is provided in its center with a hole, filled or plugged with a washer 3 of non-conductive material. A metal screw i, passing through washer 3, serves as conductor of the electric current, supplied from a suitable source, such as the magneto, through wire 5, which is clamped in place by means of nut 6, working on screw 4. A glass tube?, inserted into casing 1, and is held firmly in place by cap 2 when said cap is screwed down. 1Washers 8 and 9 are positioned to serve as cushions to tube 7 and prevent the leakage of oil.

A narrow contact strip 10 of suitable metal., such as brass or copper, bent shown, is clamped between thc head of screw i and the under face of cap 2 and extends downwardly inside of glass tube 7. .A simi lar contact strip 11, is soldered to cap 2 and bent in such a manner that. its lower end 12 is placed opposite to point 13 of strip 10, leaving a small gap 14. A hole 15 is provided to receive a tube connecting with the oil tank, for the purpose of admitting the oil into tube 6, to raise fioat 16, which consists of a hollow, hcrrnetically'sealed cyl inder of any convenient material, and nulli ciently buoyant to float upon the oil. A red 17 fastened to float 16 carries on its top a metal contact disk 18, slightlybeveled on its lower surface, as shown. The top of ioat 16 is provided with a covering 19 of nonconductive material.

Cap 2 is provided with two slots 20 which permits its turning by means of a key. A

small hole 21 in said cap, admits air to prevent the forming of a vacuum should the oil in gage glass 7 recede, due to the lowering of the oil in the reservoir on account of consumption. Y

Should the oil reservoir be filled to its capacity. float 16 will be lifted against the protruding contact ends 12 and 13 of. strips 10 and 11, but the non-conductive cover 19 will prevent the closingV of a circuit. Rod* 17 is adjusted to such length that disk idf; will fail to reach. the head of screw 4 when; the float is in its highest position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2., The diameter of disk 18 is slightly less than the distance between bodies of the strips 10 and 11, there by making contact impossible, until the disk engages or bridges the ends 12 and 13. Should, however, the diminution of the oil supply cause the float to sink, dish 18 will eventually touch said ends 12 and 1S, and cause a short circuit, thereby stopping; the ignition and bringing the car to'ahalt, before the lack of cil can cause any damage to the moving parts of the engine, through friction and resultant heat.

lill) fbi- lille distinct advantage in tbe above described reeubiter consists in tbe :tact that tbe obyecV enable features in sinnler devices nt in use, ennedoying?1 tbe seine prin- 'judicious os sediment .in tbe oil, particles f llabbitt nieiial, ot the breek lining, ol? dust, ed np by the carbureter, will settle et oni of tbe gage and cause a short circuit, thereby defeating tbe object et the devee.

in tbe inodilied arrangement, in Figs. to 8, tbe principle involved is identical to the: one above described, except' that means are provided by which a signal may be given. automatically when refiliin' of the oil reservoir is required, tbus oliviatingg the necessity ot rwatching tbe gageglass, nialringrit possible to locate tbe almandevice on the dash-board out an aaltunobile should it be inconvenient to place tbc indicator itselit` there, or to equip 'tbe witter gage ot any boiler with tbe device and transmit tbe signal to any part of the buildin'. lo obtain this object7 wire 241C7 leading 'troni tbe magneto or any other electrical source5 clamped by nuts and Q6, threaded to end of contact wire 32. Said wire 3Q passes through e washer Q3, of non-conductive Inaigerial, end is iattened on its lower end i3 shown in 8. Wire 27 posses through washer and nuts 28 and 29, which in clamp wire 30, ere threaded on it. non cont-ect between ends 12 and 12s by 4 o, tbe established circuit may be passed t. rough a bell or other device and tbe signal lVllu tbus explained tbenature of the invention, and described an operative nienner constructing and 'using tbe some, eitbougb Vwitboiixt attempting to set 'forth :ill ofthe forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms o'l its use, tbe following is claimed :4-

l. in i'ndl'cator of the character described comprising :'f'inetal erung, a removable cap tbere'for, sfmced apart contact members sup-- i ed by said cap, a float bovine1 a contact disk spaced therefrom and positioned to b-Tge the nap. between said contact memsaid'contacts being' positioned to limit es shown upward inovenient of tbc float, and Ineens for insulating said float.

in indicator of tbe character described comprisingy a inetul casing, a removable cop therefor, spaced apart Contact members supported by said cap, the lower ends of seid members being; bent toward each other to torni contacts-1. a iioat located below said contacts, a contact disk carried by seid loat and located above said contacts, and Ineaus 1to1 insulating the float.

tu indicator ot the clutracter described comprising a casing, :in insulating disk supported by one end thereof, a screw extendfuofgv tluroug'li said disk, n contactineniber clamped in position by said screw, a second Contact member supported by the end of tbe casing, and an insulated float provided with a con tactdisk to bridge tbe gap between seid contact yin embers.

Ll. An indicator of tne character described comprising a casing'au insulating disk supported by one end thereof7 e screw extending .tbrougli said disk, :L contact member clamped in position by said screw, a second Contact inelnber supported. by tbe end o the casing, the lower ends of seid members being1 bent toward each other to form contacts, e. float loczited below seid contacts, :i contact disk cerried by said float and located above said contacts," and means for insuletu ino' the float.

o. An indicator of the character described coinprisingfa casing', a cop removably entbc upper end of said casing, an insulating disk supported by said cap, a screw exi'zendlng through said disk, e Contact member clamped in position by said screw, o second Contact member supported by said cap, and an insulated lioat provided with Contact disk to bridge tbe gap between sold contact members.

6. in .indicator oli the character described comprising a cas-ine, o cap removably en tbe upper end of said casing, an insulating; disk supported by seid cap, .a screw extending through said disk, o contact meinber clamped in position by said screw, a sec- 'ond Contact member supported by said cap, tlie lower ends of said members being bent toward each other to form contacts, a float located below said contacts, a, contact disk carried by said float and located above said contacts, and means for insulating the float.

In testimony whereof l allix my signature.

JESSE BAKER KNOWLES. 

